Today in rock history 21st July

1947 – Cat Stevens (Steven Georgiou) is born in London 1955 - Howie Epstein-bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is born today 1956 – Billboard dubs Elvis Presley “the most controversial entertainer since Liberace.” 1956 – Johnny Cash goes to No. 1 on the country chart with “I Walk the Line.” 1961 – Big Jim Martin, the scary-looking guitarist with Faith No More, is born in Oakland, Calif. 1969 – The Who release their single “I’m Free” from Tommy. It goes to No. 37. 1971 – Jesus Christ Superstar mania seizes Pittsburgh. An audience of 13,000 packs the Civic Arena to see a special performance of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. 1973 – Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin crash into the album top 20 with Love, Devotion, Surrender. 1977 – In Tucson, Ariz., Linda Ronstadt joins the Rolling Stones onstage to perform “Tumbling Dice.” 1987 – Paul McCartney finishes recording Russian-language versions of rock ‘n’ roll songs for his Soviet Union-only release Choba B CCCP. 1990 – The BBC issues an apology after one of its radio stations broadcasts a profanity-laden Madonna live performance. 1990 – Former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters stages a production of his rock opera, The Wall, in Berlin 1993 – Bob Dylan films the video for “Blood in My Eyes” in North London. 1996 – In North Carolina, Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil allegedly belts a fan trying to take his photograph. He’s arrested. 1998 – Scott Weiland is arrested again on a felony warrant in Los Angeles. Weiland posts the $250,000 bail and is released the next morning. Weiland’s court appearances stem from a September ’97 arrest, which alleged two charges of felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of a hypodermic needle. 1998 – The Beastie Boys begin touring in support of their fifth release, “Hello Nasty,” at Seattle’s Key Arena. It is their first headlining tour since 1995’s “Quadrophonic Joystick” tour. 2003 – Dead Kennedys vocalist Brandon Cruz leaves the California punk legends to spend more time with his family. 2003 – Iron Maiden kick off their Give Me ‘Ed … ‘Til I’m Dead tour in Worcester, Mass., with Motorhead and Dio 2004 – Black Sabbath remove images from a film that plays during their Ozzfest set associating George W. Bush with Hitler after drummer Bill Ward posts his disapproval on his Web site. 2005 – British R&B artist “Long John” Baldry dies in Vancouver after battling a chest infection for four months. He is 64. 2007 - Don Arden, the man once dubbed “the Al Capone of pop”, father of Sharon Osbourne & manager of acts such as The Small Faces, Black Sabbath, & Electric Light Orchestra died of Alzheimer’s disease in Beverly Hills. He was 81 years old.